Folding stepladder



y 9- K. o. MUEHLBERG 7, 57

FOLDING STEPLADDER Filed July 2, 1937 INVENTOR' i,

ATTORNEY Patented July 25, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDING s'rnrmnnnn Karl 0. Muehlberg', Manitowoc, Wis. Application July 2, 1937, Serial NIL-151,635

1 Claim. This invention relates to improvements in folding stepladders.

In the ordinary stepladder construction the support of the same in unfolded condition for use 5 is dependent upon the angular disposition of the hinged legs with the ladder unit. At best, stepladders, especially when used on an uneven base or support, are shaky and wobbly, and there is always the hazard of the same collapsing or tipping while in use and when a worker has mounted the same. i

A general object of the present invention is to overcome the above objections inherent to the ordinary type of stepladders by providing a folding stepladder construction having auxiliary movably mounted leg or bracing elements which can be positioned so as to additionally brace and steady the ladder when it is unfolded and open for use. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding stepladder of the character described having auxiliary leg or bracing" elements which are mounted for movement in several planes relative to the ladder and which, when not in use. may be folded compactly against the side rails of the ladder.

Ordinary stepladders are inadequate as to providing supporting means for a worker positioned on any of the upper steps of the ladder. Further-r more as the worker is positioned near the upper portion of the ladder, the ordinary stepladder fails to provide any suitable, conveniently positioned supporting means for any of the worker's materials or tools.

With the above in mind, the invention has as a further object the provision of an adjustable supporting element which may be projected vertically above the upper end of an opened-out stepladder for the purpose of aiding in the support of the worker and the workers tools and materials. a

A further objectof the invention is to provide a folding'stepladder of the character described which may be collapsed as compactly as-the standard forms of stepladders.

A further object of the invention is to provide a folding stepladder which is of very simple construction, which is easy to manipulate and adjust, which is strong and durable and secure, which is inexpensive to manufacture, and which is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of the improved folding stepladder, and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claim, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing in which the vsame reference numerals designate the same *parts in all of the views;

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved stepladder in open or unfolded position with the 5 auxiliary supporting and bracing instrumentalities in inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view only showing the supporting and bracing elements moved into operative positions; y 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view of the upper portion of the stepladder, with thebracing and supporting elements in inoperative position and portions broken away to show structural details;

Fig. 4 is a similar fragmentary side view only 1 showing the operative positions of the supporting and bracing instrumentalities;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the stepladder as arranged in Fig.3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, on a larger so scale, indicated on line 6 6 of Fig. 4 and showing a utensil mounted at the upper end of the vertically adjustable supporting element;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional detail view taken on line 1-1 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. Sis a fragmentary side view of the upper end of the stepladder in collapsed condition.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, it will appear that the improved stepladder includes a pair of transversely spaced-apart side rails ID to which are secured the endsof vertically spaced-apart, and horizontally disposed steps II. An enlarged top platform I! is pivotally mounted relative to the bevelled upper ends ofithe side rails Ill-and projects laterally of said 35 ra ls.

The stepladder is provided with the usual supporting legs I 3 which are held together as a unit by suitable braces and struts l4, in a manner so that said legs I3 are slightly downwardly, out- 40 wardly divergent. The upper ends of said legs M are fastened to a bracket l5 which is carried by the top platform I! and which is pivotally associated with the step rails III, as at 16.

From the construction thus far described it 45 will be evident that the connected legs l3 may be diverged relative to the step rails l0, and when the ladder is in open position it is arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and it may be held in this position by the usual foldable struts H extended between the rails l0 and supporting legs i3. From the open position of Fig. 1 the ladder may be moved to collapsed position as shown in Fig. 8 wherein the legs l3 are moved adjacent a the inner faces of the rails I 0, by virtue of the pivotal mounting l5.

One feature of the invention resides in the provision of auxiliary supporting legs or bracing instrumentalities indicated generally by the numerals II. An auxiliary leg II is positioned adjacent an outer face of each of the rails I 0 and consists of an elongated member, substantially co-extensive with the rail. At the upper end of each auxiliary support I. there is a pivot plate l5 pivotally held to the upper portion of the respective rail III by a pivot bolt 20. The upper end of each element l8 carries a hinge plate 2| which is connected to an adjacent portion of the plate I! by a pintle 22. It will thus be seen that each auxiliary leg II is free to swing on its pivotal mounting l9 angularly in the plane of its rail l0, and it is also free to swing in a plane at right angles thereto on the pintle 22. When not in use the auxiliary legs III are held in the position shown in Fig. 1 by hooks 21 engaging eyes 24. 0

Another feature of the invention referred to 'is a supporting element 25 susceptible of vertical projection relative to the ladder. Said member 25 is an elongated member disposed, in inoperative position, against an outer face of one of the legs l3, and substantially co-extensive' therewith, as in Fig. I. Said vertical supporting element 25 extends through a slot 26 provided therefor in one side of the top platform I23 As best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, said slot 25 is outwardly downwardly enlarged and tapered so as to permit movement of the member 25 from the angular position of Figs. 1 and 3 to the vertical position of Figs. 2 and 4.

When said verticalsupporting element 25 is in inoperative position, as in Figs. 1 and 3, it is lowered against the outer face of the adjacent leg l3 with its upper end projecting only slightly above the top platform l2. It is secured in position by the lower pin 21 and an upper pin 25 passed through registering openings therefor in the ends of the member 25 and in the leg l3 and side edge of the platform i 2. Said pins 21 and 28 are carried on secured chains 29 and 30 so that the same will not become lost and will always be available.

. The auxiliary vertical supporting element 25 is only adapted for use when the ladder is in unfolded operative position. It is then used when the worker desires a supporting medium, either for himself or for materials, which is projected vertically substantially above the upper platform I2. This adjustment is accomplished by removing the pins 21 and 28 and swinging the member 25 to' a vertical position and then projecting it vertically upwardly the desired extent. The member 25 is formed with a series of spaced apertures 3|, and a selected aperture is brought into registration with the aperture in the side edge of the platform l2. Then the upper bolt 29 is inserted through these registering apertures. The auxiliary member 25 is further held in adjusted projected position by a brace 22 which projects horizontally rearwardly from one of the rails ID. The outer free end of this brace 32 has an aperture 32 therein which is adapted to coincide with one of the apertures ii in the member 25, and then a bolt carrying a winged nut, is

inserted through said last mentioned registering aperture to additionally secure the member 25 in its position of vertical adjustment. This arrangement is clearly disclosed in Figs. 2 and 4. Due to the inner or rearward projection of the brace 32, the adjacent rear leg I3 is provided with a recess 35, which recess accommodates the extending portion of the brace when the ladder is completely collapsed as in Fig. 8.

A material receptacle 36 is adapted for removable mounting on the upper end of the support 25 when it is in vertically projected position, according to the requirements of the worker. This receptacle has a bifurcated lower end 31 into which the upper end of the member 25 extends, and releasable connection of the element 25 to the element 25 is effected by a pin 38 inserted into registering apertures as in Fig. 6.

It will be obvious from the description'that the improved stepladder is susceptible of normal and ordinary usage as in Fig. 1. When so used the auxiliary legs and supportingmembers are held compactly against the stepladder elements and do not in any manner interfere with the use and operation of the ladder, and said elements are also maintained in the latter position when the ladder is collapsed, and they do not in any way interfere with the folding or unfolding of the ladder. If it becomes desirable to additionallybrace the ladder, either or both of the auxiliary legs l5 may be swung .so as to engage the ground or base and are especially effective if the ground or base is uneven, as said legs may be swung in several planes so as to most effectively engage the support and prevent the wobbling or unsteadiness of the ladder. The member 25 may be easily projected into a supporting position whenever desired and provides means for the worker to hold onto and also provides a convenient receptacle for working materials when the member 36 is positioned as shownin Figs. 2 and 6.

improved folding stepladder is of simple and novel construction and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

A stepladder, comprising a ladder member having side rails and a top platform, there being a tapered slot in the latter, supporting legs foldably connected with said platform, an elongated arm slidably mounted through the tapered slot in said top platform and normally disposed at an angle to vertical against a side of a supporting leg and in coincidence therewith, said arm being movable in the slot of the platform to a selected position of projection extending vertically above said platform, means on the upper end of said arm permitting the mounting of a receptacle when the arm is in a projected position, and means for releasably retaining said arm in either its lowered angular position against a 1eg or in a selected projected vertical position, the means for retaining the arm in a selectedprojected position and for mounting a receptacle on the arm being accessible and operable only when said supporting legs are extended for ladder supporting purposes.

KARL O. MUEHLBERG. 

